Building Resilience into America's Regional Economies

RIAN and the community of Venture Development Organizations (VDOs) are transforming regions across the United States through strategic investments in innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology - one company at a time, repeated hundreds of times over. Explore this site to learn more about VDOs, find examples of their client successes, join the discussion for improving regional economic development, and bring new thinking, new practices to your own economy.

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Venture Development Organizations (VDOs) sharing best practicesThe Regional Innovation Acceleration Network supports the community of existing and emerging VDOs around the country by providing the means for peer-to-peer sharing of information and best/common practices and helping to identify funding opportunities for VDOs; and provide tools to help regions approach the creation of their own VDO.

A VDO is a business-driven, public or nonprofit organization that promotes regional growth by providing a flexible portfolio of services, including: assisting in the creation of high-growth companies; providing expert business assistance to those companies; facilitating or making direct financial investments; and, speeding the commercialization of technology.

Investments AttractedBetween 2003-2010, clients have raised $89 million in angel capital, $82 million in venture capital, and an overall total of $183 million in investment.Lawrence Regional Technology Center Lawrence, KS

Wages PaidSince 2002, clients have added more than 7,000 jobs with a payroll over $250 million as a direct result of our work.Mississippi Technology AllianceRidgeland, MS

Revenues EarnedCompanies have generated over $50 million in annual revenue since 2007.Innovate Saint LouisSt Louis, MO

Investments AttractedThe over 475 early stage companies which have received investments by BFTP of Southeastern Pennsylvania have raised over $1.2 billion in follow-on investment.Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA

Wages PaidSince start of operations in 1995, total wages of client businesses amount to more than $152 million.Technology 2020 Oak Ridge, TN

Investments AttractedBetween FY99-11, nearly $216 million has been leveraged for more than 1,500 projects..Maine Technology Institute Brunswick, ME

Jobs CreatedIn 2012, 583 jobs were created and retained through Innovation Works assistance.Innovation WorksPittsburgh, PA

Investments AttractedOver 25 years, 400+ startups have attracted more than $110 million in investment.Center for InnovationGrand Forks, ND

Investments AttractedThe Center has fostered the development of 670 startups, which employ more than 6000 people and have attracted over $140M in investmentCenter for Innovation at University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND

Investments AttractedThe angel funds have invested in 43 ventures which--with co-investment and syndication--have resulted in over $26 million of equity investing, an average investment of $600,000 per ventureCenter for Innovation at University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND

Jobs Created1,190 full-time employee positions were created by 93 client firms over the previous 10 years. An additional 262 part-time jobs were created, too.SIRTISpokane, WA

Jobs CreatedIn FY10/11, nearly 500 jobs were created as a result of BFTP/CNP efforts, and an additional 68 jobs were retained.Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern PennsylvaniaUniversity Park, PA

Revenues EarnedClient companies have earned $186 million in revenue since 2002..Idea FoundryPittsburgh, PA

Jobs CreatedSince start of operations in 1995, our programs have led to an increase in total employment of more than 2,400 positions.Technology 2020 Oak Ridge, TN

Investments AttractedSince 2002, clients have captured more than $217 million in investment & equity.OCTANeAliso Viejo, CA

Wages PaidSince start of operations in 2006, average salary of the jobs created is $64,000.SC LaunchSouth Carolina

Revenues EarnedFrom 2010-2011, clients achieved revenues of $333.9 million.Small Business and Technology Development Center of North CarolinaRaleigh, NC

Wages PaidWages and salaries for clients' employees totaled $16.7 million in 2011. For the past six years, total wages earned exceed $69.4 million.Innovation Center of the RockiesBoulder, CO

Investments AttractedMore than $1.3 billion in funding has been attracted by 110 companies created, recruited, and accelerated since July 2002.BioEnterpriseCleveland, OH

Investments Attractedi2E-assisted companies experienced 31 percent job growth in FY2013 with an average wage of $73,395 compared to 1.3 percent job growth statewide and an average wage of $38,250i2EOklahoma City, OK

Wages PaidDuring 2006-2010, staff involvement with businesses resulted in 10,338 jobs leading to $440 million in total payroll.Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC)Baton Rouge, LA

Investments AttractedSince 1985, client companies have raised more than $700 million in funding.CONNECTSan Diego, CA

Investments AttractedClient companies were able to secure an additional $40 million from investors in FY 10/11..Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern PennsylvaniaUniversity Park, PA

Investments AttractedSince 1999, more than100 companies have used $10.2 million from the Concept Fund to leverage more than $253 million in private capital—that’s $29 of private capital for every public dollar invested through the Fund.i2EOklahoma City, OK

Investments AttractedBetween its Technology Commercialization, National Center for Defense Robotics, and business startup and support, Tech Collaborative companies have generated almost $83 million in additional funding between 2000 and the middle of 2009.The Technology CollaborativePittsburgh, PA

Jobs CreatedBetween 1995-2008, investments created an annual average of more than 1,600 jobs.Connecticut InnovationsRocky Hill, CT

Investments AttractedBetween 1998-2008, a total of $200,582,440 of downstream funding attracted for program's total investment of $6,278,344 in 108 companies.TEDCOColumbia, MD